Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 5/24/2006

Question
But he has many good signs that do not like autism symptoms described in the book.

1. He likes new things and going out, no repetitive behaviors, no any routine, no sensory problems.

When he is playing cars on the table, he likes to accept new method you introduced to play. If you put some tracks on the table, he will try to connect them himself, and put cars on the trail. He play everything at home, boxes, pens, bowls, potatoes, clothes and so on.

2. He pays attention to things around him.

When I am drawing on an erasable pad, he will come to erase them and draw some lines and erase them and run away. If telephone rings, he will be the first one to pick up the phone, put in his ear, but say nothing and run away. When I open the frig, he will rush into it to see what is inside.

3. He likes peek-a-boo very much. He can start a peek-a-boo game by pushing me into a room then he runs into another room with laughing. Then after several seconds he comes out to find me. When he finds me, he is very excited and looks at me and hugs me. He also likes to be cuddled and played. He laughs a lot if I scratch his body.

4. He likes cartoon movies (Most is Disney's). Although normally he is very active, when he concentrated on cartoon movies, he is very quiet, and can last for a long time. We cut his hair at that moment. He also likes to read hard board books.

5. He is not very obstinate to everything.

6. He likes to imitate things and learns very quickly. When he sees the comb, he will put on his head to move, when he gets the toothbrush, he washes his teeth. He knows how to open closet doors and turn on lights, press elevator button to go down.  

Answer
Hi again,

Ok, this is answer to part 2 and 3.

The positive things you mention can ALSO exist in a child with autistic spectrum disorder.

If all these experts agree, they are probably right.  Get treatment for your son.

Please, understand, I am not in a position to tell you your son is not autistic. It sounds like he is.  Don't delay because you are embarrassed or ashamed that he is not "perfect".  No one is. He will grow and improve but only if he gets the help he needs.

Catherine